Drug abuse up among children

Drug abuse up among children

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Increasing drug abuse now includes
children as young as seven years old, according to the National
Narcotics Agency (BNN).

BNN Head Insp. Gen. Togar Sianipar said on Sunday that it was
found that several elementary school students, aged seven in
North Sulawesi had been arrested by police for drug abuse.

"Parents must be aware of the latest developments in drug
trafficking. Don't wait until kids become victims," Togar said at
an anti-drug workshop in Manado, North Sulawesi on Sunday.

According to Togar, at least 7,000 junior high school students
and 10,000 high school students nationwide had been identified as
drug abusers.

He also said that any police officer, prosecutor or other law
enforcer involved in drug trafficking would be punished, and
might even be dismissed from their positions. --Antara

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Scene-Police-action

JP/national

Police told not to overact

BANDUNG, West Java: National Police Chief General Da'i
Bachtiar advised police officers on Saturday not to overact when
being filmed by television crews during operations against
criminals.

He also warned them against unlawfully exposing suspected
criminals who have been captured, beating them up during
operations or being filmed while firing their weapons.

"If you know of officers who have done these things, please
tell me. Take note of the police unit they come from," Da'i said
when giving directives to officers at the West Java regional
police headquarters in Bandung.

He said he gave the warning so that no police officers ignored
operational procedures. He said he hated seeing his men on
television violating operational procedures when trying to
capture crime suspects.

Several television stations now regularly broadcast the
popular programs that show police raids against suspects.

Da'i advised police chiefs at every level to immediately
remind their men that while informing the public about any
success in their anti-crime operations, they should remain level-
headed and not show the violent aspect of such operations.
--Antara

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National-scene
Akbar mulls to run for presidency
JP/4/4Scene

Akbar eyes presidential run

SURABAYA: Akbar Tandjung, the embattled chairman of Golkar
Party, said on Sunday that he would only run for president if he
had accomplished certain things.

He said that he first had to win the corruption case
(Buloggate) against him that was currently being examined by the
Supreme Court, then had to secure a victory for Golkar in the
legislative elections in 2004 thereby placing as many Golkar rank
and file members as possible at regional legislatures (DPRDs) and
the House of Representatives (DPR).

A high profile corruption case involving the State Logistics
Agency (Bulog) remains a strong legal stumbling block for Akbar
and Golkar.

"Pray for me so that I will be acquitted by the Supreme Court
(so that I can run for presidency)," Akbar told his supporters in
Surabaya.

Akbar was sentenced to three years in jail by the Central
Jakarta district court, the verdict was upheld by the Jakarta
High court for his role in a Rp 40 billion corruption case better
known as Buloggate. He remains free pending appeal to the Supreme
Court.

Golkar will start selecting its presidential nominees in June
this year, and will finally decide on its presidential candidate
by February next year to contest the country's first ever direct
presidential election due to take place between June and August
2004 after the legislative elections which could take place as
early as April 2004. --Antara

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Scene-tki-recruitment
PJTKIs told to train recruits
JP/4/Scene

Labor agencies told to train recruits

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Manpower and Transmigration Minister
Jacob Nuwa Wea said labor recruitment agencies should be required
to train recruits before dispatching them abroad.

"Indonesians seeking employment abroad must have specific
skills. That is why I ask each labor recruitment agency to enter
recruits into training courses," he said after opening a
coordination meeting of the provincial branches of the All-
Indonesia Labor Union (SPSI) here on Saturday.

In addition to technical know-how, labor recruitment agencies
must also provide recruits with foreign language skills,
particularly English, he said.

The ministry this month issued licenses to 62 labor
recruitment agencies to send workers to the Middle East.

The licenses were issued to the labor recruitment agencies
based on certain criteria, such as owning a dormitory to
accommodate departing workers and a language laboratory. --Antara